Release mechanism



Jan. 10, 1956 H, A. sPERLlcH 2,729,903

RELEASE MECHANISM Filed Sept. 50, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Emana uuu INVENTOR.

Jan. l0, 1956 Filed Sept. 30, 1953 H. A. SPERLICH RELEASE MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 H. A. sPERLlcH 2,729,903

RELEASE MECHANISM Jan. 10, 1956 Filed Sept. 30, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent 'O RELEASE MECHANISM Herman A. Sperlich, Highland Park, Mich., assigner to Ironrite, Inc., Mount Clemens, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application September 30, 1953, Serial No. 383,271 8 Claims. (Cl. Sil- 59) This invention relates to ironing machines and more particularly to an improved emergency release mechanism for the ironing roll of such machines.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved emergency release mechanism for releasing the movable ironing roll from the stationary ironing shoe of an ironing machine, of the type illustrated and described in my copending application Serial No. 198,192, led November 29, 1950, now Pat. No. 2,688,199, dated September 7, 1954.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel emergency release mechanism for the ironing roll of an ironing machine, which is positive and fast in operation, simple and compact in construction, and economical of manufacture. i

It is a further object of the invention to` provide a novel emergency release mechanism, for manually separating the roll and shoe of an ironing machine, with a minimum of exertion, by a small forward movement of a spring loaded release handle which on the return stroke is adapted to restore the roll to its pre-release relation with the normal roll oscillating mechanism.`

The above, as well as other objects and advantages of the invention, will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is an elevationalsectional view, partially broken away, illustrating an ironing machine provided with an ironing roll release mechanism made in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1, taken on the line 2 2 thereof;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. l, taken on the line` 3--3 thereof;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 3, taken on the line 44 thereof;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 3, taken on the line 5 5 thereof;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing the release mechanism moved to an unlocking position preliminary to the release movement of the roll;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing the release mechanism after the roll has been moved a slight distance; and

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing the release mechanism at the extreme point of roll release travel.

Referring now to the drawings, the illustrative ernbodirnent comprises an ironing machine which, except for the improved emergency roll release mechanism described hereinafter, is described in detail in my aforementioned copending application.

As is best seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the ironing machine generally comprises an ironing shoe 10 and an ironing roll 12, suitably mounted on a base 14, which is provided with legs as 16. The roll 12 is rotatably supported on a pair of spaced arms 18 and 20, as by the shafts 22 and 24 which are carried in suitable bearings as 26 and 28. The roll 12 is adapted to be rotated by ice means of the electric motor 30 acting through a driving means comprising, the gear train 32, clutch mechanism 34, gear train 36, shaft 38 and gear train 40. The motor 30 is also adapted to swing the roll 12 towards the shoe 10 into a working engagement therewith, by means of the gear train 32, clutch mechanism 42, the eccentric mechanism 44 and the lever 46, which is fixed in the pressure sleeve 48. As is best seen in Figs. l and 3, the roll supporting arms 18 and 20 are joined by a longitudinal tube 50 in which is oscillatably mounted the pressure sleeve 48. The rear side of the longitudinal tube 50 is` provided with a circumferential aperture 52 through which the lever 46 passes, so as to permit it to be fixed in the pressure sleeve 48, as indicated at 53. The circumferential aperture 52 is formed to permit a substantial movement of the lever 46 relative to the tube 50. A more detailed description of the mechanism for rotating and pivoting the roll 12 is set forth in my aforementioned copending application.

The pressure sleeve 48 is adapted to be releasably tiXed to the tube 50 by means of the release mechanism generally designated 54. `As viewed in Figs. 3 and 5, the tube 50 is provided with a longitudinal aperture 56, on the front side thereof, which is disposed adjacent to the left end of the pressure sleeve 48. The left end of the pressure sleeve 48 is formed to provide a hollow structure 57. The front side of the pressure sleeve 48 is provided with a longitudinal aperture 58 in which is freely carried a lock pin 60. Oscillatably mounted in the hollow left end portion 57 of the pressure sleeve 48 is a spool 62 which is provided with two end portions 64 and 66 adapted to seat on the inner surface of the sleeve 48. The spool 62 is provided with a center portion 68, having a diameter smaller than the end portions 64 and 66 and on which is oscillatably mounted a release trigger 70. The release trigger 70 is substantially arcuate in cross-section and extends longitudinally of the spool 62, abutting against the spool end portions 64 and 66.

As is best seen in Figs. 5 and 6, the release trigger 70 is provided with a longitudinally disposed, inwardly slanting portion 74, on the front side thereof, which is adapted to cam the lock pin 60 outwardly into a locking engagement with the aperture 56 in the longitudinal tube 50, whereby the pressure sleeve 48 and the tube 50 are releasably locked against relative movement. In order to facilitate the engagement of lock pin 60 with the tube 50, the aperture 56 is provided with a tapered inner edge, as designated at 75, which is adapted to form a seat for the reception of lock pin 60. The rear side of the release trigger 70 engages a longitudinally extending portion 76 of the torsion spring 78, which is adapted to resiliently bias the release trigger into a locking engagement with the lock pin 60 and the aperture 56.

As is best seen in Figs. 3 and 4, the torsion spring 78 is disposed on the left end of the spool 62 and has one end anchored in the pressure sleeve 48 at a point as designated by the numeral 80. The left end portion 64 of the spool 62 is cut away along a portion of its circumference, between the points designated 81 and 83, to permit the longitudinal portion 76 of the torsion spring 78 to engage the release trigger 7l).` A plurality of `coplanar and adjacently disposed arcuate apertures 82, 84 and 86 are respectively provided in the longitudinal tube 50, the pressure sleeve 48 and the release trigger 70 which are adapted to permit the passage therethrough of a release handle 88 which is `fixedly secured in the spool 62 in the aperture 90,` as by the threads 92.

In operation, assuming that the eccentric mechanism 44 has been actuated so that the roll 12 is disposed in a working engagement with the shoe 10, the release mechwardly into engagement with the aperture sandthereby.

releasably lock the pressure sleeve48 and the longitudinal tube 50 together. Thisv is the. position in which the release mechanism, 54 is disposed during normal operation' of theironing machine. During normal operation, the roll 12 may be oscillated by4 means ofthe eccentric mechanism 44, which provides approximately a one-half' to three-.quarters Vof .an inch separation between the rollV 12v and theshoev 10. Such. amount otV separation is well adapted rfor ordinary ironing andlpressing use, but in case of anV emergencyy a much wider separationbetween the roll and the shoe is` desired.` A novel feature of the present invention. is thesmooth, fast operating roll release action which isprovided, coupled with the fact that a separation distanceofapproximately two inches is provided between. the` roll 12. and shoe 10. It has been found that a separation oflapproximatelytwo inches between the roll andshoe is. more than suicient to. quickly release any article of clothing, or other item, which may accidentally get caught between. the roll 12, and the. shoe` 10.`

As shownin` Fig.,..5, thean'ormal operating position for the release handle 88 is approximately lifteen degrees froml the vertical. plane,y towards the rear side lof the machine. Assuming a needffor., an emergency release of the ironing rollv 12., theV operator may manually release the roll frorrrt-he shoe y by, exerting` a, rearwardly directed forceon. theV release handle 88, so as to rotate the handle approximately 45f The releasing action during such movement of the release handle 88.- may be understoodbyv considering Figs; 5 through 8. As the release handle 88. moves from the position, shown in Fig..5, it engages the rear end ofthe arcuate aperture 86, in the release trigger 7.0, at. apoi'nt generally designatedy as 94, and continued` movement of. the handlev 88 rotates the trigger release 70 in a. clockwise direction against the retarding force of the torsion spring arm 76. Such movement ofthe release. trigger -70 disengages the slanting front portion 74` from the, lock pin 60., thereby permitting the lock pin to move inwardly andA out of engagement with the aperture S6 inwthe. longitudinalV tube S0. The apertures Sti-and: 82 in. the longitudinalV tube-50 and the apertures` 84 and.86. in the pressure sleevev 48- and the release trigger 70, respectively, are sospaced andare of, a proper length, so. that whenthe, lock. pin 60 moves out of theaperture 5.6the release handle4 88 will abut against the rear edge v9tiiofithe aperture 82,. and move4v the tube 5,04 in` a= clockwise. direction, asY viewed in` Figs. 5 through 8. Continuederotation of the releasehandlc 88 proceeds until the handle abutsagainst the rear edge of theaperture. 84 in the pressuresleeve 48', at a pointgen.- erally designated'las 98. It will beseen that at this point, further releasing travel of the longitudinal tube 50, relative to the, pressuresleeve 48; is prohibited by reason of the fact'that the pressure sleeve.48 is held rigid by the lever 46 which is. associated with the eccentricV mechanism 44.

The operator may restore the; ironing roll-..112 to itspre release relationship4 with-,the normal roll. voscillating,meehis. associated the eccentric:4 mechanism 44.

During the return movement of the release handle 88, the* torsion'A spring arm 76 -resiliently biases the release trigger back to the initial locking position shown in Fig. 5. Although the return movement of release trigger 70 is effected by torsion spring 78, its actual rate of return movement is governed by the return movement of release handle 88. Such4 action occurs because the rear end 94 of the release trigger slot86 is urged by spring 78 into engagement with the release handle 88 during the return movement, thereby permitting the release trigger 70 to be moved only when the release handle is moved.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that variousmodilications and changes may be made Without departing from theuspirit or-scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. In an ironing machine, the combination of, a stationary ironingshoe, an ,ironing element movable toward and away from said shoe,k said ironing element being rotatably mounted. on a-pairv of. spaced arms, a longitudinal hollow member connectingsaid'arms, a sleeve releasably locked in said longitudinal member, a lever fixed in said sleeve for oscillating said longitudinal member, whereby said ironing element is moved toward and away from said shoe, said'longitudinal'` member and sleeve being provided with adjacently disposed longitudinal apertures, a lock pin carried in the aperture in said sleeve, a spool in said sleeve, a release trigger carried by said spool, a spring means carried by and anchored to said sleeve and adapted to resiliently bias said'r trigger so-as to move said lock pin outwardly and into engagement with the aperture in said longitudinalY member to releasably lock. said sleeve and longitudinal lmember against relative movement, abutment meanson said longitudinal member, a release handle operatively attached to said spool and adapted to actuate said releasey trigger against the biasing action of said, spring means so as to disengage said lock pinfrom the aperture in saidtlongitudinal member, and, saidrelease handle beingadaptedto engage said abutmentzmeans after said lock pin is'disengaged' from said longitudinal member, whereby said longitudinal member may bemoved relative to said.l sleeve ,and said ironing element accordingly moved away from said ironing shoe-Without actuating said lever. v

2. In an ironing machine, the combination of, a stationary ironing Shoe, van ironing element movable toward and away from said shoe, said ironing element beingA rotatably carried by a longitudinal hollow member, a sleeve releasably locked in. said longitudinal member, a. lever xed insaid sleeve for oscillating said `longitudinal member, whereby said ironing. elementis moved toward. and away. fromsaid. shoe,.a locking meanscarriedby said sleeve and adapted.Y to releasably lock .said-longitudinal memberr and. sleeve against relative movement to permit said lever to. move-said ironing element toward and. away from. said shoe,y a rst. meanscarried in `said sleevean actuater carried. by said firstmeans for operating said locking means, aspringmeans anchored in said sleeve` adapted4 to Vresiliently bias` sadactuator so as to movesaid lockingmeansinto vengagement: with said longitudinal member, and a releasing means operatively attached to.` said.V first means and -adapted to move vsaid actuator against the biasing. action of. said spring means to disengage said lockingmeans and to move saidlongitudinalmember relativeto said` sleeve soas to move said ironing` element.y away from said ironingV lshoe without actuatingfsaid lever; f Y

3. In an ironing machine, the. combination of, a.y stationary ironingshoe, anironing. element movable toward and. awayl fromA saidshoe, said ironing element being carried bya longitudinal hollow memben a sleeve carried in` saiddangitudinalmemben, means for releasably fixing saidsleeve to said longitudinal member; a lever vtixedia said; Sleeve; for;A OSCillating `said longitudinal member, whereby saidl ironing-element is moved' towardiand 1 away whereby said longitudinal member may be moved relative to said sleeve and said ironing element accordingly moved away from said ironing shoe without actuating said lever.

4. In an ironing machine, the combination of, a stationary ironing shoe, an ironing element movable toward and away from said shoe, said ironing element being rotatably carried by a longitudinal hollow member, a member carried inside said longitudinal member, a locking means adapted to releasably lock said members against relative movement, a lever' iixed in said member for oscillating said longitudinal member, whereby said ironing element is moved toward and away from said shoe, a iirst means carried by said member adapted to operate said locking means, a second means carried by said member adapted to actuate said first means, and a third means operable by said second means after said locking means has been disengaged, whereby said longitudinal member may be moved relative to said member and said ironing element accordingly moved away from said ironing shoe without actuating said lever.

5. In an ironing machine, the combination of, a stationary ironing shoe, an ironing element movable toward and away from said shoe, said ironing element being rotatably carried by a longitudinal hollow member, a member carried by said longitudinal member, a lock pin carried in an aperture in said member and adapted to be moved into a releasable engagement with an aperture in said longitudinal member, a lever iixed in said member for oscillating said longitudinal member, whereby said ironing element is moved toward and away from said shoe, a first means carried by said member and operable to move said lock pin into said releasable engagement with an aperture in said longitudinal member, a second means carried by said member adapted to actuate said iirst means, and a third means operable by said second means, whereby said longitudinal member may be moved is moved toward and away from said shoe, a release trigger carried by said member adapted to engage said locking means when moved in one direction and to disengage said locking means when moved in another direction, a

rst means carried by said member adapted to actuate said release trigger, and a second means operable by said first means after said locking means has been disengaged, whereby said longitudinal member may be moved relative to said member and said ironing element accordingly moved away from said ironing shoe Without actuating said lever.

7. ln an ironing machine, the combination of, a stationary ironing shoe, an ironing element movable toward and away from said shoe, said ironing element being rotatably carried by a longitudinal hollow member, a member carried by said longitudinal member, a locking means vadapted to releasably lock said members against relative movement, a lever ixed in said member for oscillating said longitudinal member, whereby said ironing element is moved toward and away from said shoe, a spool carried by said member, a first means carried by said spool and adapted to operate said locking means, a release handle operatively attached to said spool and adapted to actuate said iirst means to disengage said locking means, a spring means carried by said member adapted to actuate said irst means to engage said locking means, and a second means operable by said release handle after said locking means has been disengaged, whereby said longitudinal member may be moved relative to said member and said ironing element accordingly moved away from said ironing shoe without actuating said lever.

8. A mechanism for releasably connecting two members against relative movement comprising, a sleeve rigidly connected to one of said members and being oscillatably mounted in the other of said members, a lock pin carried in an aperture in said sleeve, a spool oscillatably mounted in said sleeve, a release trigger carried by said spool and adapted to move said lock pin into a locking engagement with said other member, means adapted to resiliently bias said trigger so as to move said lock pin into said locking engagement, a release handle operatively attached to said spool and adapted to actuate said release trigger against the biasing action of said spring means so as to disengage said lock pin, and abutment means on said other member adapted to be engaged by said release handle after said lock pin is disengaged from said other member, whereby said other member may be moved relative to said sleeve and said one member.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,260,799 Rush Oct. 28, 1941 

